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Ferrari's Felipe Massa has eyes on Lotus, McLaren Formula One seats

September 15, 2013

Massa will be replaced by Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari in 2014. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Felipe Massa is not sitting around waiting for a 2014 Formula One ride to come to him. The Ferrari driver told Brazilian broadcaster O Globo that just playing a support role to Ferrari's No. 1 driver, Fernando Alonso, is not his plan for the rest of the season.

“No, I won't be doing that,” said the 32-year-old, who has been told he is being replaced by former teammate Kimi Räikkönen after November's 2013 finale. “I'm going to attack.”

He is hoping that attack is the springboard to another top car, having already ruled out continuing his career with a back-of-the-grid team.

“We're negotiating with Lotus, and it's going well,” Massa said. “They have a competitive car, which is what I want. We are also in contact with McLaren, but this is more difficult to judge.”

McLaren has yet to confirm that its current drivers, Jenson Button and Sergio Pérez, are definitely staying put in 2014.

One driver not clinging to his similarly long F1 career is Mark Webber, who is swapping his Red Bull cockpit for a Porsche prototype in 2014. The 37-year-old Australian told F1 Racing magazine that finding the right time to stop is a difficult task for any athlete.

“I'm probably leaving F1 a year too soon, but with the [regulation] changes next season and the opportunity to join Porsche, it's the best move for me,” Webber said.